Biography
Hourod, Cello prodigy
Born in 2009, Hourod’s story unfolds with the symphonic resonance of a cello at age 3, guided by his unrelenting passion and prodigious talent. Even at age one, he was already exploring rhythmic possibilities through beatboxing, hinting at the extraordinary musician he would become.
He began cello studies with Mary Thompson at the Vancouver Academy of Music. By the age of 6, he was the youngest recipient of the prestigious Leslie Ponich Medallion for the most outstanding cellist under the age of eight. In 2017, he joined the Intermezzo String Ensemble at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music, quickly rising to lead cellist.
From age 9 to 15, Hourod studied under world-renowned cello virtuoso Professor Eric Wilson at the University of British Columbia. Following Professor Wilson’s retirement in 2024, Hourod continued his training under the guidance of Sungyong Lim and Alex Cheung.
At age 10, Hourod, as a top qualifier of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition, made his debut at Carnegie Hall, performing Sonata in G Minor: Largo and Allegro by Henry Eccles. He was coached by Professors Marion Feldman and Eric Wilson, who praised his advanced mastery, typically not reached until age twelve.
By 12, he joined the advanced ensemble Sinfonietta at the VSO School of Music and became the cellist for the Rumore Quartet, coached by VSO’s lead cellist Henry Shapard.
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra recently invited Hourod and his quartet to perform at the premiere of the Centrediscs release Composer by the Canadian Music Centre. This milestone highlighted Hourod, Rumore Quartet’s youngest member, as a rising star in the music world.
His work with the quartet earned Platinum Standing at the Vaya Live! Music Festival and a nomination to represent Vancouver at the regional and provincial levels. Their performance of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8 further demonstrated Hourod’s exceptional skill with demanding repertoire.
Chamber music and orchestral work have shaped his musical identity, with each ensemble and mentor enriching his expressive depth.
Beyond cello, Hourod has taught himself piano, guitar, electric guitar, and, more recently, the kamancheh. He began studying the traditional Persian instrument in 2024 without prior exposure to Persian music, yet he quickly grasped its techniques with characteristic ease.
